seventh fusion - audio

[beholdmydemons]

[Walter starts talking almost immediately after turning on the recording, sounding tired but as though his message was prepared ahead of time.]

You're the king of a country, and you hold a great contest - or a game. One man who comes to participate is very tall, and strong. Would you let him compete as any other, or bar him from the game to even those others' chances?

A man comes to a remote village, one that's remained as it is for a thousand years. He brings with him technology that would change life as the people know it, bringing them comfort and luxury. Should the village send that man away, or accept his gifts?

The person you love is gravely ill, doomed to sleep and never wake...you've tried every remedy you can imagine, and there's nothing left at your disposal. Would you tend to them for the rest of your life, or let them die naturally?

[He goes quiet, not sure what to follow that up with. The radio, playing tinnily in the background, switches to a holiday song that's been on at least five times already today.

...Yeah, that bears asking about. In just as tired a voice, but a much less rehearsed one:]

What the hell is Christmas?

[[ooc: canon update to end of first route split, complete!]]

Comments

[lightningbearer]

Are you one to let the opinions of others sway your actions, or will you do whatever you think is best?

*...yeah, totally countering your questions with a question*

[beholdmydemons]

The latter, of course. [A hesitant pause.] Are you going to make your choices?

[audio]

[twinsanity]

[...you are the biggest pain in the neck, can you stop it with the things he actually has some vague compulsion to answer?]

...while I doubt you actually want an answer to most of that, the third question is obvious - you should tend to them for the rest of your miserable life. Why wouldn't you, if you love them?

[Yeah, that...yeah.]

[audio]

[beholdmydemons]

[Oh hey, it's the poncy shit.


...ugh, it's the poncy shit...]

Why would I ask if I didn't want an answer? [ >:| ] They're meant to...reveal the truth about yourself, or something of the sort.

[That third question is a hard one to answer. He can't really judge anyone for choosing either option.]

[dreamsofahero]

Neither. While the first might be unfair, the second would undoubtedly be so; I would instead have him taken aside to ask him whether he truly desires to compete against people he most likely outclasses, or if he'd prefer to find a greater challenge.

That would depend upon the circumstances and feelings of the people involved. In most cases there isn't any "should" or "shouldn't" for such a scenario, merely a question of whether the affected people feel that the gains are worth any losses, risks, and changes. Perhaps the ideal scenario would be to accept some things and decline others. But neither should be done blindly.

*...okay there's the tiniest of pauses before the third answer*

Simply because an option isn't at my disposal now doesn't necessarily mean it won't be later. If there are no other competing concerns, I'd see no reason not to continue to care for that person. Doing so might mean eventually there would be a chance of recovery, while failing to do so would guarantee a slow death. Presuming, of course, that they are not suffering while in such a state.

*the last one however is easy to answer*

It's a holiday held near the time of the winter solstice in this world as well as, apparently, several others. I couldn't speak to its origins and purpose, but there seem to be a variety of traditions, including decorating and giving gifts.

[beholdmydemons]

[...W-WELL YEAH BUT]

Imagine you could only choose one or the other. What would you do then?

[There would be other options in reality, wouldn't there. But if you're being asked as an assessment of your character, you have to shave some of those off.]

[bertall]

_{[Those questions, ow. Right in the morality.]}

I need to think about the first two for a little bit, but the third one... No matter how far away they'd be, I'd be there for them. For all we know, there might even be a cure later on down the road.

[beholdmydemons]

It does sound like a good choice to make, doesn't it? [But who are you making it for, is the question Walter ends up asking.] I think the question's meant to assume there will never be a cure, though.

action;

[throw_stone]

[As soon as Ramza heard Walter over the network, he left work early.

Yeah. That's a big thing for Ramza - he was worried. Thank the gods Walter is awake - he'd not wanted to lose a friend so quickly. He's almost out of breath when he walks in, trying not to look the worried one.]

...You've awakened.

[A statement - and is that a slight crack of a smile?]

action;

[beholdmydemons]

[Walter had woken up with a terrified start, confused as anything. He'd lain still for hours after that before picking up the Pokegear, trying to determine whether all of that had been a dream or not - and if not, then what to think.

He'd done what he'd set out to do. He felt...accomplished. Powerful. Alive. Which was ironic, because he was fairly certain he was dead.

...Except not, apparently. And now back in this world - this incredible world that must have been shaped by the strong, through the presence of Pokemon, and where people weren't subject to the whims of the incompetent.

It only made sense. He must have been in the right after all.

Ramza will find him still lying where he's been for the past week, but with the Pokegear in hand and Orthrus stretched out on the bed next to him. He glances up at Ramza's entrance, and at first just blinks at him, needing a moment to bring his memories back up to speed.

But then he returns the smile with a half-hearted grin of his own, fatigue and lingering confusion keeping it from quite reaching his eyes.]

I've been asleep?...How long?

audio;

[shadows_edge]

Interesting questions, Walter. Might I ask what prompts them? The first three, I mean. As for Christmas, from what I understand it's a human holiday that has...something to do with dead plants?

I am not entirely sure. Aradia just made mention to me of it once in passing.

audio;

[beholdmydemons]

I just want to know how people would answer. What you choose reveals the kind of person you are.

Who's this "Aradia"? [Since you don't seem to have a clue.]

[redenzione]

I would allow the man to compete. It would not be fair to deny him a chance to prove his talents.

Is comfort and luxury all that he offers? It is not wrong for man to seek such things, but they should never be all that man desires. I fear that an indulgence of such earthly pleasures may prove too tempting for one's sinful nature.

I would tend to my love to the day she or I breath my last. She has given her life for my sake; it would be an insult to her if I did nothing less.

[beholdmydemons]

[...8|a....]

What do you believe man should desire?

[video]

[snotfaced]

[YES, he finally figured the 'gear out even if he still has two thousand misconceptions about it. Time to celebrate by answering this dude's questions even if he thinks they're stupid.]

What's the point of these? Of course you let the guy compete, take the gifts, and move on with your life. Some people and things are always going to be better, so take advantage of it while you can. And why would you wait around forever for someone to die when they could just get it over with right away?

[...Well, those are his thoughts right now, anyway. There's a high chance he'd do more for loved ones, with how sentimental he secretly is, but he's basically oblivious to those emotions at the moment.]

I dunno what Christmas is, though, so it can't be that important.

[video]

[beholdmydemons]

The point is to see who answers with what. Some people would decide to keep the man from competing. [You pass the chaos test, though. That last answer is a little iffy, but depending on the circumstances, there's nothing wrong with preferring a quick death to a slow one.]

It has to be important, with how everything is. I can barely turn on the radio without hearing about it three times a minute.

voice;

[nostabbing]

How do you not know about Christmas?

voice;

[beholdmydemons]

Use your imagination. [Seriously, it's not that hard to figure out, is it?]

anonymous text;

[freshprints]

1. Yes, I would let him compete, because nowhere in the hypothetical does it say that the contest or game the participants are engaging in is one where physical attributes might be advantageous.

2. Since I'm neither that man nor a member of that village, that's hardly for me to decide, is it?

3. I'd let them die.

text etc;

[beholdmydemons]

Assume for the first that being tall is an advantage, and for the second that you're the village chief. You have to choose between one or the other or there's no point to the questions. [stop rules-lawyering dammit]

1/2 and I am so very sorry

[ardent]

[...Are these questions not supposed to be obvious, because they're kind of obvious as far as Ishimaru is concerned.]

In the first case, some sort of competition should be introduced where that person's strength and height wouldn't matter! There's no point in evening the others' chances if you aren't going to include everyone, as that's entirely unfair to all parties, not just those you're banning - it's also indicating that the people you're allowing to compete are only good enough to compete against each other and have no chance against the others, undermining any victory that may be won! Uphill victory may be difficult, but difficulties are the only way that anyone accomplishes anything of value! And besides, it starts getting into the question of where you should draw the line to ban people - the absence of a bright-line rule can only lead to disorderliness!

I think the man should likely be sent away from the village in the second question - tradition and hard work are things to be valued, and removing them from one's life will just lead to slothfulness and a lack of purpose!

Thirdly, I don't feel right making any sort of judgement call on whether someone should live or die, so I choose to abstain from answering; fourthly...

[ardent]

[...uh.]

...how do you not know what Christmas is?

[audio]

[enjoymyatelier]

[oh, hey, he remembers you.

...well, sort of. Enough to really wonder if he should engage, but... well, really, why not?]

Feeling philosophical, are we?

[audio]

[beholdmydemons]

[....He'd be mad.

Except he totally just made a world where people who act like you get killed off.

He's not really mad anymore.]

Hoy, look who's still in one piece. It's a miracle!

[Video]

[the_tv_is_a_lie]

[...These moral questions what even.]

One -- I'd give them a fair shot. Appearances can be deceiving.

Two -- Why turn away something that can bring positive change?

Three...I'd tend to them a while before letting them die, but if I had to choose...I'd choose the latter. They likely lead a satisfying life, anyway.



[And then his expression takes a turn for the unsure.]

Four...you don't know Christmas?

[Video]

[beholdmydemons]

[GOOD HE KNEW YOU WERE GOOD NEWS. But anyways]

Why is that so surprising? You all act as though I didn't know what color the sky was.